Louth men accused of possessing vehicle-born explosive device

The trial of two Louth men accused of possessing a vehicle-born improvised explosive device has opened at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today.

Conan Murphy (aged 25), with an address at Plaster, Mount Pleasant, Dundalk, Co Louth, has pleaded not guilty to the possession of explosive substances at Aghaboys, Mount Pleasant on May 22nd, 2010.

His co-accused Philip McKevitt (aged 58) of Aghaboys, Mount Pleasant, has also pleaded not guilty to the same offence at his home on the same date.

Opening the prosecution case, counsel for the State, Mr Paul Greene SC, said that the court would hear that gardaí raided Philip McKevitt’s home and discovered an “adaptive” trailer constructed for the purposes of concealing two gas containers which in turn had been modified to cause an explosion.

He said that gardaí had placed the address under surveillance as part of an operation focusing on the suspected movement and manufacture of vehicle-born improvised explosive devices by members of the IRA.

Mr Greene said that gardaí also uncovered 377 metres of green-camouflaged wire which the court would hear was intended to be used as a “command wire” from a firing pack.

He said that 26kg of glucose was found in the boot of a Vauxhall Vectra car and a garda expert would testify that such material is used as a fuel additive in the manufacture of explosives.

Mr Greene said that the accused men were arrested at the scene and conveyed to Dundalk garda station, where they were interviewed a number of times and gave a number of forensic samples.

He said it was the prosecution’s case that the arrest of the men in such close proximity to the material uncovered, together with evidence gleaned from their arrest, indicated the two were in possession of explosive substances.

The trial continues in front of presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Butler.